Seitenhistorie

First, think of a place out in nature where you will feel comfortable. Plan enough time for this, so you feel relaxed, unhurried and can focus on the exercise better. While this activity takes about one hour on average, it is better to schedule at least half an hour or an hour more in case you need extra time to process your thoughts and insights.

Once you have found a suitable spot, take a leisurely walk around the area. Look around and pay attention to what catches your eye and how it speaks to you, in other words what feelings and thoughts the surrounding objects, animals, people, etc. evoke in you.

_{Domäne Dahlem} 

_{Bildquelle: Asia Chavdar} 

As you are absorbing and processing what you see, find and pick one object for each of the following nine categories: hard, soft, heavy, light, nice-looking, nourishing, even & smooth, spiky, extraordinary

_{Nature Objects as Representations of Life Areas}

_{Picture Source: Asia Chavdar}

Stop and put your objects in front of you so you can observe them. Spend some time studying your chosen items, take them in your hands, feel them, think what they may represent in your life. What do you currently perceive as hard, light, beautiful, etc. in your life. Which category speaks to you the most, produces the most resonance in you?

Arrange the items in a pattern according to their priority (e.g. with the object that has the most effect on you in the center or on top of the other objects). Think how they are connected, in what relationship they stand to each other.

Take a step back and look at your ensemble. How do you feel about it? Take a moment to think if you want to change the order or position of the objects. You may want to take single objects in your hands again to get a better idea of what they stand for in your life today. What feelings do they awake in you? What thoughts or memories come to your mind? What spontaneous ideas do they encourage?

Before finishing up the exercise, take one more look around to see if there is anything else that you would like to add to your objects. Don’t rush and give yourself time to process what you see. If necessary, complete your arranged collection with new items. Once again think what they symbolize in your life and why you feel it is important to include them in your ensemble.

Now choose one or two themes that speak to you the most as you consider all the objects that you have picked. Why are these themes important to you? How satisfied do you feel with these areas of your life at the moment? What would you like to change in those areas? What would you rather have stay the same? Maybe there is something that hinders you in these particular areas? Think of what can be done to avoid those obstacles.

Before you leave, make sure you take your most resonant object(s) or part of it with you as a way to remind you of what you have learnt about yourself during this time of reflection. When you get home, journal your experiences. It will help you process your insights again, and you might get some new ideas. Additionally, it would be nice to come back to your notes later to see what progress you have made and what needs to be addressed again.